I’ve been there. That gut-punch moment where you just want it gone. When your heart sinks because someone’s ripped off your art again.
Sometimes it hits like a slap in the face. Other times, it’s more like a slow leak, wearing you down each time you see your work show up where it doesn’t belong.
Keeping up gets harder. You send takedowns, refresh tabs, repeat. Eventually, it starts to feel like you’re slapping sparkly stickers on a sinking ship and calling it “handled.”
Before you do anything, there’s something I’ve learned. Something that could make a big difference, especially if you’re working with a team like Edwin James IP: Sending a DMCA too early could cost you more than you think.
Here’s why:
1. Step Away from the ‘Submit a Takedown’ Button
The moment you file a DMCA, that listing usually disappears, and fast. Which sounds great, until you realize it also erases the proof. If your case qualifies for legal action, we need time to collect what matters. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. No screenshots, no timestamps, no trail. And without that trail, there’s no case. So take a breath, and let us get what we need before you Marie Kondo the stolen listings.
2. You Could Miss Out on Recovering Damages
Still, platforms don’t pay you when you file a DMCA. You get a listing taken down, sure, but what about the money made from stealing your work? Filing a DMCA doesn’t get that back. Legal action can. But only if we have what we need to prove the infringement.
3. It Could Disqualify You from a Case
If too many listings are taken down before we get involved, your case might no longer meet the threshold required to pursue legal action. We typically need 50+ active counterfeit listings (on platforms like Amazon, etc) to qualify. If that happens, we can’t count them.
4. We’re Already Doing This Work- For Free
At Edwin James IP, we protect artists’ rights and recover lost earnings from counterfeiters. There’s no out-of-pocket cost to work with us. We’ll check for infringing listings, secure copyrights if needed, build the legal case, and take the infringers to court. DMCA takedowns might give you temporary relief but our goal is long-term protection and real recovery.
5. You’re Not Alone
We know how helpless it can feel when your art is stolen. In the end, you don’t have to go it alone. Our team includes artists, lawyers, and people who get it. This is what we do every day. And we’re really good at it.
So if you’re dealing with stolen art, the smartest move isn’t to go it alone, it’s to get the right support from the start. That’s where we come in. That’s why, we don’t just take listings down – we go after the counterfeiters directly, recover lost earnings, and help protect your work long-term. There’s no out-of-pocket cost, no hoops, and no fine print. Just real help from people who know how to fight this and win.
👇
Start here: Submit Your Work or Visit Our Site
Connect with us:
Instagram | Facebook
Questions? Feel welcome to get in touch with me directly at jennifer@edwinjamesip.com